The Christmas Crush

Chapter 14

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

“I can’t believe you subjected me to watching you make goo-goo eyes at the baker,” Priya said when they got back in the car.

“Forgive me? Pretty, pretty please?” Elena clasped her hands, fluttered her lashes. In Priya’s defense, it must have been awkward to witness that exchange. Elena didn’t know what had come over her out there. In the balance between professional and shameless, the scales had tipped. Priya rolled her eyes again as she started the car. Turn signal chiming, Priya went left in the direction of the highway. An air freshener printed with the Sparkle logo swayed on the rearview mirror, waving around its plastic cookie scent.

“What happened to all your I can’t get involved with a rival business owner stuff, huh? You told me you kept it strictly professional at the cookie swap. I have my doubts about that after what I saw today, young lady.” Priya squeezed the wheel, exasperated. “And every time we go out and guys approach us, you can never find a single one worth talking to. Now the only guy you’ll take a chance on is the worst possible one for your career.”

“I’m sorry I was an insolent flirt, and on company time, no less.” Elena gritted her teeth, gave Priya an exaggerated, regretful grimace. Priya sighed, shook her head. “I promise when I write in my self-improvement journal tonight, I’ll explore my bad behavior.”

Priya snorted. Yesterday on lunch break, Elena had shown Priya her new journal and the daily affirmations she’d written inside. At first the idea had seemed silly, like something that would make Dad roll his eyes. Surprisingly, she’d found the affirmations helped process her complicated feelings about her family and job.

“Okay, it wasn’t that serious. I don’t care at all about the company time; I want to be sure you’re thinking clearly. You made such a big deal about how this guy is trouble and he’s a roadblock to achieving your goals. You were lofty, inspiring. Looking out for yourself. Where did that girl go?”

They sped up the on-ramp, joined the crush of cars and semis commuting toward the city. True, Elena had made a convincing case for not getting personal with Lawrence. She’d managed to persuade herself for several days that she didn’t want anything more—even though she’d found herself smiling at random moments, thinking about their conversation at the cookie exchange. When he stood there looking like an absolute snack, however, her strength had dissipated like paint in water. “But did you see him?”

Priya’s tough facade cracked, a goofy smile taking over. One hand on the wheel, the other crept up to fiddle with her gold earring, a sure tell she wasn’t actually upset. “He is super hot, I will give you that. Not my type, but an undeniable smoke show.”

“He’s not my type either.” Maybe some hormone-induced primal instinct had taken over here. If she indulged it, it might go away. “My type is usually skinny, paint-spattered artists with a grudge against the world. Oh, Priya, I thought I could be strong. I believed I wanted to be strong. But there’s something about him. You know, like when you’re not even hungry but then you see a tasty cookie just sitting there. You know you don’t need extra sweets in your diet, but there are chunks of chocolate, and macadamia nuts—which do have their health benefits—so you grab it and gobble it up without thinking.”

Priya chuckled at Elena’s dramatic description before her expression went back to serious.

“This is going to end up like me and Arjun,” Priya warned, summoning the name of her most toxic ex. “It was all hot and heavy, but we never saw eye to eye, and then it was all cold and angry. You remember those days.”

All too well. Last year, for a month straight, Priya had shown up at work each day looking like she’d spent the night before crying her eyes out. Puffy lids, dark circles. More than once, Elena had needed to discreetly comfort her in the copy room while Priya did her best not to sob.

Arjun was a nice guy apart from Priya, but something about them together made them both insane. They’d fight—sometimes in public, sometimes with Elena there, trying to disappear into a barstool—then a dozen roses would arrive at Sparkle headquarters and Priya would forgive him.

How many times had Elena witnessed them tussle over Priya’s career focus? Arguments about Priya’s investment in her job, which often involved business trips that separated them week after week. Arjun wanted to put down roots, get married, plan for a family. In those days, Elena itched to give them both a good shake while bellowing, You don’t make sense together; cut each other loose . She’d sit there, staring into an espresso martini, thinking she had all the answers.

“What if I vow that I’ll keep it casual?” Elena asked. Bumper-to-bumper traffic gave Priya the opportunity to look at her square in the eyes. “I’ve agreed to one date. It might be awful, and we can both move on.”

“First of all, please don’t bring up promises to me. I do not want to relive the trauma of that pinkie promise I witnessed. I thought you were going to jump on that man and maul him like a mountain lion.”

“I am a lady!”

“A lady who admitted she wants to devour him like a dessert until there is not a crumb left.”

Elena balled her hands into fists, pressed them against her temples with a groan. “You’re right! I’m losing control, I’m about to binge. I can feel it.”

“Again, I find myself wanting to say kids these days .” Priya might be straightforward, which had always thrown Arjun, but Elena knew her friend only wanted the best. “I had to learn the hard way, and now you won’t listen to my wise words. I have to let you fly free, little bird.”

Elena peeked out from behind her hands. “Will you help me shop for a new outfit? I haven’t been on a date in two months, and all my nice clothes are cursed. Bad vibes from bad dates.”

“But I want this date to go poorly so you don’t completely lose your focus at work.”

“We could both go to that new boutique you keep telling me about.”

“Ugh, Elena. How dare you use my love of retail therapy against me? Of course I’ll go shopping with you. I can’t even believe you have to ask.”

They high-fived. Visions of a slinky dress in any color but lavender danced before Elena’s eyes. She tapped the app for her salon, booked a blowout before all the Saturday afternoon spots got snagged.

“As long as you understand I am not endorsing your actions.” Priya waggled her index finger in admonishment.

“Yes, yes. I understand.”

They spent the rest of the drive dissecting every word Lawrence had spoken, each gesture he’d made, for clues about his intentions. Was he looking for a casual fling like Elena insisted she wanted? Did he hope for something more, a relationship? Excitement bounced inside her, pressing down any remaining reservations that tried to nag at her. It was one date. Getting to know him couldn’t hurt, right? It wasn’t like she would slip up and give him corporate secrets over dinner.

Soaring on the high of her flirtation, Elena didn’t even feel the usual dread set in when they returned to the office. She waved at the receptionist, who looked startled to be acknowledged.

“Shopping tomorrow after work?” Priya asked while they waited for the elevator.

Elena was about to answer when the elevator dinged and the door slid open, revealing their coworker Alan clutching a cardboard box. A box filled with the items from his desk. A plant, a framed picture of his wife and new baby. To Elena’s horror, Alan had tears in his eyes.

“What’s wrong?” both women asked as one.

Alan stepped out of the elevator. His eyes darted around, and he held so tightly to the box that his knuckles had gone white. Panic balled up in Elena’s chest as she waited for him to answer. Alan had a family; his wife was on maternity leave from a part-time job. “The Michigan stores posted a two percent loss,” he said after a steadying breath. “Derick let me go. Didn’t even give me a chance to see how this month’s initiatives would turn out. I know numbers were about to improve, but he didn’t want to hear it.”

“Over two percent?” Priya whispered. “That’s insane.”

“How could he?” Elena said, scanning around to ensure no one was eavesdropping. Even the walls had ears here, and any information had a way of making it to the C-suites.

“Because he’s a heartless animal.” Alan’s tears dissipated, fury taking their place, anger denting the space between his brows and twisting his lips. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to tell my wife. She’s already stressed from no sleep. I hate him, I hate him.”

Alan spun on his heel, headed toward the exit.

“Wait,” Elena called after him. “Hold on a second; we’ll help you figure something out.”

“No offense, but I can’t get out of this nightmare fast enough,” Alan said. “I wish you both luck. You’ll need it with that sociopath.”

Without further comment, he retreated down the hallway and out of view. Priya put her hand on Elena’s arm, told her they would check in on Alan later when he’d had a chance to process. Priya pulled Elena onto the elevator. “Act natural, Elena. And don’t utter a single syllable about the date in this building.”

Elena’s ears buzzed; her heart thundered. The margin of error at Sparkle Cookie corporate had never been thinner. Razor thin. Priya’s hand felt clammy against her skin, and she knew her friend felt equally afraid. By the time they reached the second level, Elena had forced her features into a calm mask even as her emotions rioted inside. Who knew who Derick would set his sights on next?